Assembly of sports equipment fillable with liquid and a gelforming means, and sports equipment for use in this assembly

ABSTRACT

Assembly of sports equipment fillable with liquid and a gel-forming means, and sports equipment for use in this assembly. Article of sports equipment fillable with liquid such as a punch-bag. A punch-bag which comes from the factory ready for use takes up much space, is relatively heavy and is easily damaged in handling during transport. According to the invention the punch-bag is supplied to the user as assembly of the empty punch-bag ( 1 ) and a gel-forming means. The punch-bag ( 1 ) can then be supplied in empty state (small volume, low weight). After purchase the user can fill the punch-bag with water, to which the gel-forming means is added so that the punch-bag acquires the desired striking properties, in particular sloshing of the water during use is prevented in this way.

The invention relates to an article of sports equipment provided with an outer casing in which liquid can be arranged.

Such an article of sports equipment in the form of a spherical punchball is known from the British patent No. 261,614. This punchball comprises an outer casing in which is situated an unattached bladder partly filled with water. It cannot be inferred from said patent how the bladder is placed in the outer casing, nor how the water is introduced into the bladder. It has however been usual heretofore for articles of sports equipment fillable with liquid to be supplied by the manufacturer already filled with the liquid filling.

The invention has for its object to provide an article of sports equipment which is easily manageable during manufacture, storage and transport.

To this end the fillable article of sports equipment according to the invention forms part of an assembly together with a gel-forming means for forming a gel in combination with the liquid, wherein the article of sports equipment is provided with a liquid-tight outer casing and a closable filling device. Because the article of sports equipment is liquid-tight, is supplied in combination with a gel-forming means and provided with a closable filling opening, the article of sports equipment can be filled by the consumer him/herself after purchase with a liquid filling such as water via the closable filling device. The gel-forming means is herein added to the water. This results in a filling which does not splash about, or hardly so, so that the article of sports equipment displays the desired motion behaviour during use. In the non-filled state the article is furthermore considerably lighter than in filled state, so that it is easier to handle.

In a preferred embodiment of the assembly according to the invention the outer casing is manufactured from a flexible and practically non-stretch plastic. Manufacture hereby becomes easy and a low weight of the article of sports equipment can be achieved. The flexible casing enables the article of sports equipment to be compressed or folded together in the non-filled state, whereby during storage and transport it takes up considerably less space than in the ready-to-use state. Finally, there is less risk of damage during storage and transport in the folded state. Because non-stretch material is chosen, a good form-retention can be obtained, also during use.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the plastic comprises polyamide. This material has the advantage of being readily processed in combination with reinforcing yarns or by extrusion or injection moulding. This material moreover has a good wear resistance, impact resistance and low coefficient of friction and a good sound-damping.

In another further embodiment of the invention, the plastic comprises polyvinyl chloride. This material has the advantage that its properties can be readily adapted to the wishes of the manufacturer and/or the user through the use of softening agents, and that it is relatively inexpensive.

In a favourable embodiment of the invention, the article of sports equipment is formed by a punch-bag. Good use is made of the stated material properties in this embodiment. This embodiment is particularly distinguished from said known punchball. Because in this known punchball the bladder lies loosely in the outer casing, this punchball behaves rather unpredictably in use because the bladder will move more or less at random inside the ball. Furthermore, because the bladder is only partially filled with water alone, this water will begin to slosh about when the ball is struck, which also results in an undesirable impact behaviour of the ball. Because in use the punch-bag according to the invention is filled with a gel, said drawbacks will not occur.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the punch-bag is further provided with anti-rotational suspension means for preventing rotation of the punch-bag on the axis of suspension. Through the provision of an anti-rotational suspension the motion behaviour of the punch-bag becomes less random in use, which produces a less unpredictable behaviour of the punch-bag. This is particularly important for less experienced boxers.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the punch-bag comprises a suspension eye integrated with the outer casing for attaching the anti-rotational suspension means. Because the suspension eye is integrated with the outer casing, a smooth surface is obtained in the vicinity of the suspension eye and the weight forces caused by suspending the punch-bag are distributed uniformly over the vicinity of the suspension eye.

In another embodiment of the invention, the closable filling device comprises a threaded part integrated with the outer casing, and closing is achieved by a screw cap for screwing into the threaded part.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the infeed side of the threaded part is situated on the inside of the suspension eye. This placing of the filling device, i.e. the combination of threaded part and screw cap, results in the risk of damage to the filling device and the risk of injury to the user being small in that possibly protruding parts of the filling device are shielded by the suspension eye.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the outer casing of the punch-bag is transparent and the punch-bag is provided with a switchable light source arranged in the punch-bag. With this embodiment an indication of the striking force on the punch-bag can be obtained. In this way it is possible to arrange a striking force sensor in the punch-bag which, above a preset value of the blow, activates a switch to switch on the light source. Feedback of information thus takes place in respect of the blow to the user of the punch-bag.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the punch-bag is provided with a marking arranged on the outer casing. This marking can be used as target indicator for placing the blows on the punch-bag.

The invention will be described with reference to the figures, wherein corresponding components are designated with the same reference numerals. Herein:

FIG. 1 shows in partial cross-section a punch-bag according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows in partial cross-section the closable filling device for the punch-bag according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows the anti-rotational suspension means for the punch-bag according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows in partial cross-section an article of sports equipment fillable with liquid in the form of a punch-bag 1. This punch-bag 1 is provided with a liquid-tight and flexible outer casing 2 and with a closable filling device 4. This filling device will be further elucidated with reference to FIG. 2. The outer casing is manufactured from polyamide or from polyvinyl chloride, optionally with one or more admixtures in order to give the outer casing the properties desired for this purpose of use, such as flexibility, non-stretch properties, strength and coefficient of friction. Other further materials can also be added such as dyes, softening agents, fillers, antioxidants, stabilizers, vulcanizing agents, release means for releasing the finished product from the production mould and/or anti-electrostatic additives. Another suitable composition for the outer casing consists for instance of a woven nylon carcass with a vinyl coating or of styrene-butadiene rubber. The outer casing has a thickness that is sufficient to obtain the desired strength and resistance to stretch, for instance a few millimetres. With the use of said materials a strong watertight bag can be obtained for which no inner bag is required.

The punch-bag shown in FIG. 1 has an elongate form with an almost cylindrical middle part 6. The punch-bag is further provided with a suspension eye 8 integrated into outer casing 2. This can take place by forming the suspension eye in the same production step and in the same mould as outer casing 2.

Before being taken into use, the punch-bag is filled by the user with water to which a gel-forming means is added. The quantity of water does not have to fill the punch-bag completely, but it is possible to suffice with a filling of for instance 60 or 70%, as indicated in FIG. 1 by liquid surface 16. The amount of gel-forming means depends on the desired properties of the water filling in the punch-bag, and is generally more than 2 grams per litre and less than 10 grams per litre. This gel-forming means takes the form of a powder and has a composition such that it prevents sloshing of the water in the bag. Such a gel-forming means is commercially available under the name “Blue Magic”. The manufacturer is Blue Magic Products Inc., with its registered office in Stockton Calif. in the United States of America. Blue Magic comprises a water-soluble cellulose polymer with an additive which keeps the liquid free of fungi and bacteria. This agent is per se known for use as gel-forming means in for instance waterbeds. Once the gel-formation of the water in the punch-bag has taken place, it is ready for use.

FIG. 2 shows in more detail the closable filling device 4 for the punch-bag according to the invention. Filling device 4 consists of a filling opening 10 which can be closed by the user by means of a screw cap 12 which co-acts with a screw thread (not shown in the figure) in filling opening 10. The filling opening can be formed by a tube with internal screw thread which is integrated with the outer casing in that it is moulded therein. The infeed side of the threaded part, i.e. the side into which the screw cap 12 must be screwed, is situated on the inner side of suspension eye 8. In order to obtain a better liquid-tightness, there is further provided a closing ring 14 which is placed between screw cap 12 and the infeed side of filling opening 10. The thus formed closable filling device 4 is thus arranged in suspension eye 8 so that the filling opening lies somewhat concealed therein and cannot be damaged during use or even cause injury to the user.

FIG. 3 shows in more detail the anti-rotational suspension means for the punch-bag according to the invention. These suspension means are intended to prevent rotation of the punch-bag about the cylindrical axis of the cylindrical middle part 6. The suspension means comprise a strip-like part 18 which has a sufficiently great torsional stiffness to have the desired anti-rotation effect. The strip-like part 18 is provided with a number of holes 20 which make it possible for the user to be able to hang the punch-bag at the desired height by choosing the correct hole. The punch-bag is suspended by attaching strip-like part 18 at the top to a suspension hook 22 which is fixed for instance to the ceiling of the space in which the punch-bag is used. Attaching of the punch-bag to strip-like part 18 can take place by means of a snap hook 24.

Finally, the invention is expressly not limited to the described and shown embodiment, but generally extends to any embodiment which falls within the scope of protection of the appended claims, as seen in the light of the foregoing description and drawings. 

1. Assembly comprising a punch-bag (1) fillable with liquid and a gel-forming means for forming a gel in combination with the liquid, whereby the punch-bag is provided with a liquid-tight outer casing (2) and a closable filling device (4).
 2. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer casing (2) is manufactured-from a flexible and practically non-stretch plastic.
 3. Assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plastic comprises polyamide.
 4. Assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plastic comprises polyvinyl chloride.
 5. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the punch-bag is further provided with anti-rotational suspension means (18) for preventing rotation of the punch-bag about the axis of suspension.
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the punch-bag comprises a suspension eye (8) integrated with the outer casing for attaching the anti-rotational suspension means (18).
 9. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closable filling device (4) comprises a threaded part integrated with the outer casing (2) and wherein closing is achieved by a screw cap (12) for screwing into the threaded part.
 10. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the infeed side of the threaded part is situated on the inner side of the suspension eye (8).
 11. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer casing (2) is transparent and wherein the punch-bag is provided with a switchable light source arranged in the punch-bag.
 12. Assembly as claimed in, claim 1 provided with a marking arranged on the outer casing. 